July 14, 2015

Prayer: Jesus Sets the Example

Today is our second of two days looking at prayer as part of a continuing Tuesday series at Scott McCown’s blog, The Morning Drive. Click the title below to read this article at source, or click this link to see all the various articles at Scott’s blog on this subject.

We continue our Tuesday study of prayer but looking to Jesus and His prayer life. John records, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. . . . And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:1-4, 14). Jesus was NOT just a man! Jesus was NOT another prophet! Jesus was God in the flesh living on earth with man.

He was “God with us”, the “Son of God”, Christ, yet He prayed to the Father – often – VERY often! Jesus did not talk about prayer partners, prayer warriors, and daily devotionals. Christ said nothing similar to “we should pray about it.” He simply prayed. He did not promote prayer, he warned about vain repetitions. He called for persistence in prayer. At the very least we know He prayed for Peter by name (Luke 22:31-32).

The gospel accounts record over twenty (20) instances of Jesus praying:

Jesus prayed:

Mark 1:35 – He rose early to pray.

Luke 24:30-31 – He prayed before a meal.

Luke 9:28-30 – He prayed at His transfiguration.

Luke 22:43-44 – He prayed when He was weak.

John 11:41-43 – He prayed at the tomb of Lazarus.

Luke 6:12 – He spent the night in prayer.

Luke 9:18 – He prayed alone while in a crowd.

Jesus prayed because:

He was busy – Luke 5:15-16.

He had decisions to make –

Luke 3:21-22 – Before His immersion (baptism).

Luke 6:12-16 – Before choosing the 12.

Matthew 26:36-46 – Before facing the cross.

When He faced crisis – John 6:15.

When He faced death – Hebrews 5:7.

In John 17 we have a prayer of Jesus’ recorded for us. To me this is the Lord’s Prayer. in this prayer we hear Jesus:

Submitting to God – John 17:4, 6-8, 14.

Praying for His needs and desires – John 17:1-5.

Praying for the needs of the apostles – John 17:9-19.

Praying for the Church (you and me) – John 17:20-21.

If Jesus needed to pray, what does this mean for us?

Bonus article: Here’s a link to one more from the series: Quality Prayer

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